Purpose: This study examined the effect of instruction
in an active listening strategy on the communication
skills of pre-service speech-language pathologists
(SLPs).
Method: Twenty-three pre-service SLPs in their 2nd year
of graduate study received a brief strategy instruction in
active listening skills. Participants were videotaped during a
simulated parent meeting before and after the strategy
instruction. Simulated parent meetings addressed issues
that parents of children who use augmentative and
alternative communication (AAC) may face. Social validity
measures were gathered from the participants and from
parents of children who use AAC.
Results: Pre- and postinstruction use of the active listening
strategy was scored and compared using a Wilcoxon
signed-ranks test, with statistically significant results.
Postinstruction scores were significantly higher than
preinstruction scores, providing evidence of the
effectiveness of the instruction. Furthermore, participants
and parents of children who use AAC described the
postinstruction interactions more positively than the
preinstruction interactions, suggesting that the pre-service
SLPs benefited from the instruction.
Conclusion: The current study provides evidence of the
effectiveness of strategy instruction in active listening skills
that may be incorporated into SLP preparation programs